Spain is set to experience a significant change in weather this weekend. While temperatures will remain unusually high in many regions on Friday, increasingly cooler air will move into the country from the Atlantic. This could trigger heavy thunderstorms on Saturday, with some areas facing torrential rain, hail and strong gusts of wind.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
Summer is making one final push across Spain. Heat will remain the dominant weather story across much of the country on Friday, but at the same time, the next change in weather is already on the horizon.
Slightly cooler air is gradually moving towards the Iberian Peninsula from the Atlantic, making the previously stable weather pattern increasingly unsettled. The first showers and thunderstorms are already possible on Friday, but the main focus of the developing weather system is expected to be on Saturday.
Meteorologists are forecasting a significant increase in thunderstorm activity, with some storms potentially becoming particularly intense in western and northern Spain, as well as in parts of the interior.
Friday remains hot for now
For now, there is little sign of a dramatic change in weather in many parts of the country. Temperatures remain high, particularly in eastern and southern Spain, while a slight cooling has already begun along the Atlantic coast.
As the afternoon progresses, the first thunderstorms may develop. Areas that could be affected include the Gulf of Cádiz and regions along the Cantabrian Mountains. However, according to current forecasts, these initial thunderstorms are expected to remain mostly localised and relatively weak.
One notable feature is the Saharan dust currently present in the atmosphere, which can be carried down by rainfall in some areas. As a result, yellowish-brown deposits may be left on cars, terraces and roads.
Saturday set to be the key day for the weather
The weather situation will become significantly more unsettled on Saturday. Thunderstorm activity is expected to increase considerably from around midday. The combination of lingering warmth at the surface, moisture and colder air higher up in the atmosphere will create favourable conditions for the development of powerful thunderstorms.
Meteorologists are keeping a particularly close eye on north-western and western Spain.
These regions could be more severely affected
According to current forecasts, Castile and León, Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha and the Madrid region could be among the areas most affected by stronger thunderstorms. There is also an increased risk of thunderstorms in inland Galicia, as well as in Asturias, Cantabria and the interior of the Basque Country.
In addition, powerful thunderstorms could develop in the Pyrenees and parts of the Iberian System. Showers and thunderstorms are also possible in other parts of Spain. However, the severity of the weather is likely to vary significantly from one location to another.
Hail and strong gusts of wind possible
The stronger thunderstorm cells could bring more than just rain. Hail and powerful wind gusts are also possible in some areas. Particularly inland, the storms may be notable less for heavy rainfall and more for the strength of the winds they produce.
Meteorologists are also not ruling out so-called downbursts, known in Spanish as “reventones”. This occurs when cold air rapidly descends within a thunderstorm cell, potentially producing very strong winds at ground level within a short period of time.
For drivers, campers and anyone planning to spend time outdoors on Saturday, such conditions could therefore become hazardous with little warning.
Why thunderstorms are developing now
Behind the change in weather is a small DANA currently located over the Atlantic and moving towards Portugal and Galicia. DANA is the Spanish abbreviation for Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos and, in simple terms, refers to an isolated area of cold air in the upper levels of the atmosphere.
According to meteorologists, the current DANA is relatively small and not particularly well-developed. Nevertheless, it is moving into an atmosphere already charged with energy from the prolonged heat. This combination is key: hot air rises while significantly cooler air remains higher up in the atmosphere. At the same time, the warm Atlantic and Mediterranean provide additional moisture. As a result, thunderstorms can intensify rapidly within a short period of time.
Not an exceptional severe weather event – but caution is still advised
Despite the possibility of severe thunderstorms, the current assessment does not point to an exceptional or nationwide severe weather situation. Instead, meteorologists are expecting a typical summer thunderstorm pattern, with the most intense storms likely to occur on a highly localised basis.
However, this also means that a generally calm weather forecast for a particular region does not necessarily rule out a powerful thunderstorm at a specific location. Individual thunderstorm cells can intensify rapidly and locally bring heavy rainfall, hail or strong gusts of wind.
Saharan dust brings muddy rain
At the same time, Saharan dust remains a factor alongside the thunderstorms. Dust particles are already present in the atmosphere and can be washed down by rainfall. Where this occurs, it can result in the familiar phenomenon of muddy rain.
The effects are mainly cosmetic: vehicles, windows, balconies and roads can be left noticeably dirty after a shower of rain. The Canary Islands could also continue to see elevated levels of dust over the weekend.
Thunderstorms ease on Sunday
On Sunday, the unsettled weather pattern will gradually weaken, with thunderstorms increasingly shifting towards the north-east. Some isolated severe thunderstorms may still develop, particularly in the Pyrenees and the Iberian System. Areas including Aragón, Cuenca, La Rioja and north-eastern Castile and León could be affected.
In other parts of the north-east, showers are expected to remain relatively light and scattered.
The heat is not over yet
The change in weather doesn’t automatically mean the end of summer, however. The weather is expected to stabilize again starting Monday. Temperatures will remain high in many parts of Spain. Therefore, the upcoming change in weather could be just a brief interruption of the current heat wave.
For Spain, the weekend thus represents a remarkable contrast: On Friday, heat will still dominate in many places, on Saturday strong thunderstorms may occur, and on Sunday the weather activity will shift to the northeast.
Anyone traveling this weekend should therefore keep a close eye on the local weather developments, especially on Saturday – because in Spain at the moment, there can be only a few hours between bright sunshine and a strong summer thunderstorm.
